Satanic Temple's statue of Satanic figure under way for Oklahoma capitol

Updated 12:25 pm, Tuesday, May 6, 2014

The Oklahoma State Capitol building is in Oklahoma City. (Getty Images)

The Oklahoma State Capitol building is in Oklahoma City. (Getty Images)

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An artist at an undisclosed location in New York is making this statue for the Oklahoma State Capitol grounds. Photo: The Satanic Temple

An artist at an undisclosed location in New York is making this statue for the Oklahoma State Capitol grounds. Photo: The Satanic Temple

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The War Memorial Monument with Oklahoma State Capitol in the background, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Independent Picture Service/UIG via Getty Images)

The War Memorial Monument with Oklahoma State Capitol in the background, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Independent Picture Service/UIG via Getty Images)

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The New York-based Satanic Temple plans to erect this statue of Satan on the grounds of the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma city. Photo: The Satanic Temple

The New York-based Satanic Temple plans to erect this statue of Satan on the grounds of the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma city. Photo: The Satanic Temple

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Allan Houser's tribute to Native Americans, "As Long As the Waters Flow," bronze sculpture was dedicated on June 4, 1989. It is located on the Centennial Memorial Plaza of the Oklahoma State Capitol, Oklahoma, City, Oklahoma. (Getty Images photo) less

Allan Houser's tribute to Native Americans, "As Long As the Waters Flow," bronze sculpture was dedicated on June 4, 1989. It is located on the Centennial Memorial Plaza of the Oklahoma State Capitol, Oklahoma, ... more

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The Satanic Temple planned this statue in response to a monument to the 10 Commandments at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Photo: The Satanic Temple

The Satanic Temple planned this statue in response to a monument to the 10 Commandments at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Photo: The Satanic Temple

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A sculpture of The Guardian, by artist Kelly Haney, is silhouetted against the moon atop the Oklahoma state Capitol in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011.

A sculpture of The Guardian, by artist Kelly Haney, is silhouetted against the moon atop the Oklahoma state Capitol in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011.

Photo: Sue Ogrocki, Associated Press

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This is an earlier rendition of the statue planned for Oklahoma. Photo: The Satanic Temple

This is an earlier rendition of the statue planned for Oklahoma. Photo: The Satanic Temple

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SUE OGROCKI : AP
CRUMBLING: Seams are exposed on the Oklahoma state Capitol exterior where mortar has broken loose.

SUE OGROCKI : AP
CRUMBLING: Seams are exposed on the Oklahoma state Capitol exterior where mortar has broken loose.

Photo: Sue Ogrocki

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Satanic Temple's statue of Satanic figure under way for Oklahoma capitol

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It might seem like a stunt, but officials at the Satanic Temple in New York are completely serious: They have every intention of erecting a 7-foot Satanic statue near a monument to the 10 Commandments at the Oklahoma State Capitol.

"Now that some images have been released of the monument itself, it shows we're in this for the long haul," said Lucien Greaves, Satanic Temple spokesman. "It's part of our overall agenda to raise awareness, not just of Satanism but of marginalized groups in general."

The statue depicts Baphomet, or Sabbatic goat, an image with roots in the Inquisition, that is now a widely recognized symbol of Satanism, Greaves said.

After its Dec. 1 announcement of plans to put up the statue, the group quickly raised more than $28,000, bypassing the $20,000 goal. More than 1,000 people contributed, according to the website.

Work is well along on the piece, which is to be cast in bronze, Greaves said Monday. Photos of the work in progress were released last week.

"We're not far away from the bronzing process right now," he said, although he wasn't sure how much longer it would take.

The proposal to put up the statue was made in response to the placement of a monument to the 10 Commandments, installed in November 2012 on the capitol grounds. According to an inscription on the monument, it was donated by Dr. Mike Ritze, a state representative, and his wife and children.

The monument also triggered a lawsuit in state district court, filed by four plaintiffs represented by attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma Foundation. One of the plaintiffs is an ordained Baptist minister.

It's significant that the suit to get the monument removed was filed in state court, rather than the more typical federal court for such cases, said Brady Henderson, legal director for the ACLU of Oklahoma and the lead counsel on the case.

"Oklahoma has a provision in the state constitution that prevents state property from being used to support a religion," he said.

The provision has been somewhat ignored, he said.

"The message conveyed (on the 10 Commandments monument) is self-evidently exclusive, explicitly urging those viewing the monument to worship or believe in no other forms of divinity but the one endorsed," the plaintiffs stated in their petition filed Aug. 19, 2013.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma's Capitol Preservation Commission has declared a moratorium on any more monuments, after it got requests from a Hindu group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. The commission has said it's waiting for the ACLU suit to be resolved.

The Satanic Temple, however, does not seem to be swayed by legal limbo.

"Our opinion is that once (the statue) is done, we don't need to wait for the suit to be resolved," Greaves said. "If there's a finding that the 10 Commandments shouldn't be there, it has ramifications for ours, too. In that case, both should be removed."